How did I get deferred? I don't get it??!

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>I got my deferral letter and I don't understand how other people with lower stats than mine have gotten in.</p>

<p>[ size=+1][ color=red][ b]Decision: Deferred [ /b][ /color][ /size]
[ size=+1][ color=red][ b]Major: Biology/Chemistry LSA[ /b][ /color][ /size]</p>

<p>[ b]Stats:[ /b][ list]
[ *] SAT: 2280 (800 M, 780 CR, 700 W)
[ *] SAT IIs: Bio 800, Chem 780, Math II 800, Physics 790
[ *] ACT:34 (32 E, 36 M, 34 R, 35 S, 11 W)
[ *] GPA: 3.98 UW
[ *] Rank: 4/825
[ *] Other stats: 9 APs: Bio (5), Chem (5), Physics C: (5 on both), Psychology (5), US GOV (4), Stats (5), Calc BC (5), US History (4)
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Essays: I thought they were awesome.
[ *] Teacher Recs: Don't Know.
[ *] Counselor Rec: Don't Know.
[ *] Hook (if any): Have a summer job at a wholesale, 600+ Hours of CS at hospitals, etc.
[ /list][ b]Location/Person:[ /b][ list]
[ *] State or Country: Michigan
[ *] School Type: Public, 800+ students, somewhat competitive
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Male
[ /list][ b]Other Factors:[ /b] I was suspended a couple of times due to some issues I don't really want to discuss.
[ b]General Comments:[ /b] What a Joke!??! Seriously, I have applied to Duke, Stanford, MIT, Villanova, and Northwestern. I have been accepted to 3/5 of those schools and I am still waiting on MIT and Stanford. I would have expected this from Stanford, but definitely not Michigan. I don't want to come off as a snob, but I think this school is holding me back to due some disciplinary issues I have had at school. This school obviously does not know how to handle applications such as mine. Btw, I did write a statement of explanation.</p>

2

<p>I suspect you know this already but the formula for admittance to U of M is very holistic and not based exclusively on your statistics. The rigor and track record of your school will make a difference. They may have a decidedly poor tolerance for any disciplinary issues, and that may have also significantly affected your recommendation from your counselor. </p>

<p>A deferral is not a rejection, I remind you. Should you end up rejected, you always have an avenue to appeal the decision. If you were to appeal the decision, I am betting that more of an explanation and contrition over your disciplinary issues might benefit you. Just a hunch.</p>

<p>Maybe you should discuss this deferral with your counselor. Best wishes.</p>

3

<p>thatguyinclass–I agree with you. Also, I’m in the same boat, except, my ACT score isn’t as high as yours, nevertheless, above average. (ACT: 29)</p>

<p>I spoke with the Grand Rapids representative for UofM, and she, or Michelle, told me that they have so many applications to review, so the main factors are: (1) GPA, and (2) test scores. If that’s the case, I don’t know why they didn’t accept you. </p>

<p>Your suspensions may be a factor, but if Duke and Northwestern could see past that, then so can Michigan. Best of luck to you! And let the venting begin!</p>

<p>End note: Good for you for taking the high road. Duke is a great school. :)</p>

4

<p>I would definately assume your suspensions.</p>

5

<p>Remove the spaces from the brackets so everything is in a nice bulleted list, and people don’t have to struggle to read it, please!</p>

6

<p>What kind of “disciplinary issues” did you have?</p>

7

<p>How did you get into both Northwestern ED and Duke ED?</p>

8

<p>^</p>

<p>lol i was wondering the same thing</p>

9

<p>Haha oh lord.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>So you have been accepted to Villanova, Northwestern and Duke? Then what is the problem? You have some great choices.</p>

<p>I also had trouble reading your original post and I’m also wondering how you could already have been accepted to three schools.</p>

11

<p>Northwestern and Duke ?? Really ? Did you apply ED to both ???</p>

12

<p>^That is raising some flags for me, too. I hope the OP knows that that is against ED practices and may result in his acceptances to both schools being revoked…</p>

<p>Also, OP, you said that you wrote an explanation regarding your suspensions. The tone of that statement may have made an impact. If you sounded contrite and it appeared that you have learned from your experiences, that is one thing–but if your statement made you appear to be the victim of the situation or was remotely critical of the administrators who levied your punishment, that is entirely another. If it is the latter situation, that may well have contributed to your deferral.</p>

13

<p>oh… my bad… i mixed the 3rd college with MSU… applied to NW as RD. Duke was ED though. And Villanova was EA. Yeah, so I am forced to go to Duke. But thats ok. Doubt I would get into MIT or Stanford anyway (those are both EA though).</p>

14

<p>ummm… 29 ACT is NOT above average.</p>

15

<p>OK so if you got into Duke ED why does it matter if you get into Michigan? You should have already withdrawn all of your other apps…</p>

16

<p>Stanford only has single choice EA, so you wouldn’t be able to early anywhere else?</p>

17

<p>Honest response to your question.</p>

<p>1) Just because you explained the suspensions, doesn’t mean it’s fine.
2) You don’t know what your teacher and more importantly counselor recs look like.
3) Your extracurricular/leadership profile is below average.
4) The way you are surprised that you are deferred from Michigan, makes it obvious that Michigan’s not your first choice, you might not think it’s important, but this can easily be detected by admissions officers through your essays and how prepared your application is. like how much effort you put into the application itself.
5) you should also know that Michigan’s admissions process is holistic, and it’s one of the few schools that does not place as much emphasis on the SAT/ACT scores.</p>

18

<p>yea. ok. it doesnt really matter since I have to go to Duke. But I am good with that. Im not sure about the Stanford situation. I know I applied to the other schools way before Stanford. Congrats to anyone who did get in though!</p>

19

<p>I agree wholly with kb10.
You did ED for Duke, thus your decision is final. You’ve been suspended, that fact alone, puts you below almost all applicants who have no records of your sort. An explanation guarantees you nothing.</p>

<p>Oh and to the person who said their ACT score of a 29 is “above average”, Michigan’s ACT scores are on average between 28-32, their official Princeton review published average is a 29.</p>

20

<p>How did Duke let you slip through? </p>

<p>For the record: I think you are F.O.S.</p>